How GIS Has Changed Our World

health data

This is a follow up post about the radon levels in the United States of America. As mentioned in an earlier post, radon is formed when uranium breaks down into radium, which breaks down into radon. Radon is absorbed by the soil and ends up in water wells and home foundations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon levels shouldn’t exceed 4.0 pCi/L (pico curies per liter). The map below shows the radon levels by color – yellow representing Zone 1; counties where average indoor radon screening levels are less than 2pCi/L, orange representing Zone 2, counties where average indoor radon screening levels are between 2 and 4 pCi/L, and red representing Zone 3, counties where average indoor radon screening levels exceed 4pCi/L. According to the National Radon Defense, the best way to know the radon level in your home is to test for it.

Click here to visit the National Radon Defense website to learn more about radon, radon levels in the U.S. and radon testing.

Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. According to the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., after tobacco. Radon is formed when uranium breaks down into radium, which breaks down into radon. Radon is absorbed by the soil and can enter homes through the foundation and well water systems. The map below shows the percentage of homes tested with radon levels 4.0 pCi/L and above. The data is from homes which volunteered to test their homes for radon.

Click on the link here to view more information about radon, radon testing and radon levels in Georgia.

Here is an interesting article on the distribution of sickle cell anemia and malaria across the African continent. The authors of this article also details various testing instruments and measures for HIV/AIDS and other conditions.

Below is a map that illustrates the distribution of malaria and sickle cell anemia in Africa. Click on the website here to download the article!

According to the March of Dimes website, there has been an increase in the rate of preterm births in the U.S., rising from 2% to 9.8% in 2016. Furthermore, their data show significant differences in preterm birth rates, based on race and zip code. Below is a map of this data for the U.S. The colors are based on a “grade” that the March of Dimes has given each state based on the rate of preterm birth rates in that state. Visit the March of Dimes website here to find out more information on each state’s preterm birth rate report card.

AIDSVu.org has information on HIV prevalence and incidence rates and cases from all counties and states in the U.S. The information is also broken down by demographic and mode of transmission. On the national map, it appears that the southeastern and eastern regions of the U.S. made up a significant portion of the persons living with HIV in the U.S. in 2015. Some of these states included Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey and New York. The site also provides information on services individuals can utilize for testing and treatment purposes. The map below shows the rates of HIV prevalence in Georgia in 2015. According to the local data provided by the site, there were approximately 49,463 people in Georgia living with HIV at the time of data collection. To view more HIV data on specific counties in GA or from other counties and states in the U.S., click on the website, here.

The National Cancer Institute and the CDC developed a database with information on various types of cancer, areas in the country, demographics and statistic measurements. The map below shows age-adjusted incidence rates of breast cancer in Georgia from years 2011 to 2015, per 100,000 population. The demographic of focus is females, 50 years of age and less, of all races.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define binge drinking as having 4 or more drinks in the past 30 days for a woman and 5 or more drinks in the past 30 days for a man. To illustrate the amount of adults in the U.S. who binge drink, the CDC developed a map of the prevalence of binge drinking among adults in the U.S. in 2015. Based on the map, it appears that adults in most parts of the United States engage in heavy drinking. To learn more information about excessive drinking, please visit the CDC’s website, here.